Chemoenzymatic reduction of double bonds from chalcones using Daucus carota roots

The chemoselective reduction of conjugated double bonds has been developed using Daucus carota roots in water. This is the first report on the chemoselective reduction of conjugated double bonds in the presence of other reducible functionalities such as nitro-, and cyano groups. This method is also compatible with halides and isolated double bonds, which do not survive under catalytic hydrogenation.